Obituary for Bernadine Lucia Kirk (Wearner)
Bernadine Lucia Kirk (nee Wearner), age 96, passed away Sunday February 28 in her home at the Evergreens in Moorestown, New Jersey. She was married to the late Robert “Bob” Kirk (deceased 2002) and was devoted mother to her three children, Linda Kolker (Robert Kolker), Michael Saaty (Christine Saaty), and Emily Harker (Patrick Harker). She was a loving grandmother to Tom Harker, Michael Harker, Meghan Porcella (Aaron Porcella), Amy Mertens (James Mertens), Kara Saaty and Monica Pizzi (Jonathan Pizzi), and three great-granddaughters, Fiona and Lydia Porcella, and Lilly Mertens.
Known to family and friends as “Lucy,” she was born in Boulder Colorado on April 10, 1924 and grew up in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Lucy spent most of her adult life in Washington D.C., where she worked as an executive secretary. She especially enjoyed working for a small nuclear-engineering firm, where she traveled to do population counts in in areas surrounding a proposed nuclear power plant, and attending congressional hearings regarding regulation and approval of nuclear facilities.
Lucy and Bob retired to Fayetteville, PA in 1977 where they lived for 23 years. She loved gardening and flower arranging, and was president of the Gettysburg Garden Club. She also pursued her love of music and sang solos during services at her Methodist Church. She took art classes for several years. In 2000, Lucy and Bob moved to the Evergreens in Moorestown, New Jersey to be closer to family.
Lucy was a voracious reader, embracing even in her later years the technology of a Kindle, hers now containing over 1,200 books that she read during the last decade of her life. She was a great conversationalist and story-teller on many topics that ranged from her own personal history, to retelling of things she learned in books or on the History and Animal Planet channels, to her love for all creatures great and small (including, most recently, her cat, “Karma,” and her Boston Terrier, “Buddy”). She had a great sense of humor. Most especially, Lucy was a loving, generous, and gracious woman to all who knew her. Lucy will be dearly missed by all who knew her, especially her family.
Funeral arrangements are pending. In lieu of flowers, please send a donation to your local animal rescue organization or the ASPCA.
Known to family and friends as “Lucy,” she was born in Boulder Colorado on April 10, 1924 and grew up in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Lucy spent most of her adult life in Washington D.C., where she worked as an executive secretary. She especially enjoyed working for a small nuclear-engineering firm, where she traveled to do population counts in in areas surrounding a proposed nuclear power plant, and attending congressional hearings regarding regulation and approval of nuclear facilities.
Lucy and Bob retired to Fayetteville, PA in 1977 where they lived for 23 years. She loved gardening and flower arranging, and was president of the Gettysburg Garden Club. She also pursued her love of music and sang solos during services at her Methodist Church. She took art classes for several years. In 2000, Lucy and Bob moved to the Evergreens in Moorestown, New Jersey to be closer to family.
Lucy was a voracious reader, embracing even in her later years the technology of a Kindle, hers now containing over 1,200 books that she read during the last decade of her life. She was a great conversationalist and story-teller on many topics that ranged from her own personal history, to retelling of things she learned in books or on the History and Animal Planet channels, to her love for all creatures great and small (including, most recently, her cat, “Karma,” and her Boston Terrier, “Buddy”). She had a great sense of humor. Most especially, Lucy was a loving, generous, and gracious woman to all who knew her. Lucy will be dearly missed by all who knew her, especially her family.
Funeral arrangements are pending. In lieu of flowers, please send a donation to your local animal rescue organization or the ASPCA.